Suwaiq ends its losing streak

Action from the AFC Cup Group C match between Al Suwaiq and Malkiya Club in Isa Town, Bahrain on Monday

Muscat Daily staff writer

May 01, 2019

Oman’s Al Suwaiq's four-match losing streak came to an end on Monday when it came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Bahrain's Malkiya Club in a Group C game of the 2019 AFC Cup in Isa Town, Bahrain. The draw also earned Suwaiq its first match point in a disappointing campaign that has lose its earlier four matches.

And Suwaiq got the equaliser with just three Malkiya had won its away game at Suwaiq 2-1 and the draw puts it second in the group with eight points behind Lebanon's Al Ahed, which tops the table with 11 points.

A quiet first-half came to life at the half-hour mark as Malkiya got a golden chance to take the lead. Hashim Isa played a through ball to send Hasan Helal clear on goal, whose attempted right-footer was saved by Suwaiq's goalkeeper Anwar al Alawi.

There was little the goalkeeper or the Suwaiq defence could do six minutes after the break when Ali Jasim’s cross was spilled by the goalkeeper and Ammar Hassan volleyed the loose ball into the back of the net to put the Bahraini side in front going into the dressing room.

Malkiya made it 2-0 in the 66th minute as Helal was tripped by Suwaiq's defender Rasheed al Mushaifri, prompting the referee to point to the spot. Isa stepped up to take the penalty and drove home his fourth goal of the AFC Cup campaign.

Suwaiq fought back as Mohsin al Ghassani pulled one back in the 71st minute with the striker rifling home a powerful effort into the bottom corner of Yusuf Hasan’s net.minutes to go. Ghassani turned from scorer to provider, supplying the ball to Khalil al Alawi who tried his luck from 30 yards out and his thunderous left-footed effort nestled into the back of the net to equalise for Suwaiq.

The draw was Suwaiq's first point in 11 AFC Cup matches since its 2-1 win over Syria’s Al Jaish in May 2017.